The general manager of Des Moines' bus system wants the city to ban advertisements on bus stop benches that encourage people to buy a vehicle rather than ride the bus.

Elizabeth Presutti of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority asked officials in a letter last month to update city code to ensure future advertisements don't send a conflicting message about riding the bus.

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She requested the city prohibit anti-transit advertising similar to how it doesn't allow the marketing of alcohol and night clubs.

The Des Moines Register reports Presutti's letter was in response to advertisements by J.D. Byrider, a used-car dealership franchise based in Indiana.

A spokeswoman for J.D. Byrider said the company has used transit advertisement in other markets without any issue.

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